Recaps

Ruan Hua urged Zhan Biao to contact Liaoyang Ruyi Law Firm for help overturning Zhao Yong’s wrongful conviction. Meanwhile, Jian Shuyue visited Zhou Yi, teased him before discussing a bail request, and received a challenging case from Zhen Ruyi.

• Ruan Hua explained that powerful support was needed to reopen the Zhao father and son’s wrongful-conviction case, and recommended Liaoyang Ruyi Law Firm to Zhan Biao.
• Ruan Hua told Zhan Biao that the firm had cleared Zhao Yongjiu in the Hanshan Home-Invasion Murder Case, and Zhan Biao considered contacting it.
• Jian Shuyue surprised Zhou Yi at his office, and the two kissed before returning to a professional demeanor.
• Jian Shuyue asked Zhou Yi whether her clients could get bail, but Zhou Yi refused and said the suspects were ineligible.
• Jian Shuyue admitted she was not handling the case and had only wanted to visit Zhou Yi.
• Zhen Ruyi called Jian Shuyue and sent her details of a challenging case, asking her to review it and respond quickly.

Jian Shuyue recognized that her new wrongful-conviction case involved Jiang Huizhen, and Zhou Yi promised he had a plan to help overturn the conviction. Meanwhile, Jiang led a reckless rescue mission that ended with police surrounded and injured, and Director Zhou angrily ordered her team to leave Yangcheng.

• Jian Shuyue found Jiang Huizhen's name in the appeal documents and decided to take her case, while Zhou Yi confirmed she was the same Jiang Huizhen involved in the rescue operation.
• Zhou Yi told Jiang Huizhen's team to oppose acting rashly and promised Jian Shuyue he had a plan to get the conviction overturned.
• Jiang Huizhen led the rescue team into Changxing Village, where villagers surrounded their police cars and attacked them with farm tools.
• Ma Erli taunted the police while dragging the captive Tian Jiawen by a chain, and Fan Xiaoyang was nearly killed before Cai Xiaobo and other officers rescued him.
• Jiang Huizhen's team retreated from the village, and Director Zhou berated her for the failed operation and ordered her people to leave immediately.

Zhou Yi drove Jiang Huizhen and her team out after their failed rescue operation, triggering a political dispute between Liaodong and Jiangnan. Zhou Yi told Jian Shuyue that the conflict was only the prelude to his plan, which next involved reporter Lin Fang.

• Zhou Yi blamed Jiang Huizhen for the failed operation and ordered her team to leave, while Political Commissar Bian escorted them out.
• Jiang Huizhen called Zheng Jianqing and accused Yangcheng's police of negligence, but Shan Wenxu rebuked Zheng and defended Zhou Yi's team.
• Zheng Jianqing and Wang Jiemin escalated the dispute to leaders in Qingyuan, Ganquan, Liaodong, and Jiangnan, with neither side conceding.
• Zhou Yi told Jian Shuyue that the political backlash against Jiang Huizhen was only the prelude and said Lin Fang would take the next step in his plan.
• At the Provincial Television Station, Lin Fang worried about rumors of her transfer back to Anping, then opened a QQ message from Too Much Sugar urging her to read a post.

Zhou Yi’s online campaign against the wrongful convictions of the Zhao Family father and son sparked nationwide outrage and forced the Jiangnan Province High People's Court to reopen the case. As Lawyer Jian prepared for the retrial, Zhou Yi also established Yangcheng’s Special Police Brigade, which soon launched its first operation.

• Lin Fang rallied her followers to amplify the post accusing Jiang Huizhen and Jiangnan Province's Political and Legal System of wrongdoing in the Zhao Family case.
• Zhou Yi’s online public-opinion campaign gained momentum, and attempts to censor discussion failed as media outlets outside Jiangnan Province pursued coverage.
• After the Central Publicity Department intervened, the Jiangnan Province High People's Court initiated retrial proceedings on May 12, 2006, prompting Zhao Yong, Zhan Biao, Ruan Hua, and their allies to celebrate.
• Lawyer Jian prepared to fight the retrial, while Zhou Yi and Reporter Tian praised the impact of the online campaign.
• Yangcheng’s Special Police Brigade was established on May 15 with thirty-two officers.
• On May 23, the Special Police Brigade joined the Criminal Investigation Brigade and the Public Security Management Brigade for its first counterterrorism and riot-control operation, targeting Changxing Village.

The Yangcheng Public Security Bureau launched a planned crackdown on Changxing Village, where the Ma family had abducted and abused Tian Jiawen. When Ma Erli threatened her with a knife and villagers advanced on police, Zhou Yi ordered a sniper to shoot him, leaving the crowd stunned and frightened.

• The Yangcheng Public Security Bureau sent a convoy to Changxing Village on market day to carry out its crackdown.
• Ma Changwei warned villagers about the police, and nearly a hundred armed villagers gathered outside Ma Erli's home.
• Ma Erli dragged Tian Jiawen into the courtyard and held a knife to her neck while ignoring police warnings.
• As the villagers advanced, Zhou Yi ordered the special police sniper to shoot Ma Erli.
• The sniper killed Ma Erli, and the gunshot sent the villagers into shock, prompting some to flee and others to hesitate.

Police rescued Tian Jiawen and three other women from Changxing Village, arrested Ma Changwei and many Ma clan members, and uncovered at least five sets of remains. As the rescue embarrassed Ganquan officials and renewed pressure on Jiang Huizhen, Ma Baojin decided to organize villagers to petition against Zhou.

• Zhao Xin covered Tian Jiawen with his jacket and took her home as police secured the scene.
• Guided by an informant, police rescued three more women, including Hu Wenhui, and found at least five sets of remains linked to Ma Erli.
• Police arrested Ma Changwei and many Ma clan members after they tried to block officers, while Liu Defu celebrated the clan’s downfall.
• The Yangcheng Public Security Bureau informed Ganquan that Tian Jiawen had been rescued, angering Zheng Jianqing and worsening Jiang Huizhen’s anxiety over the Zhao retrial and media attention.
• After learning Ma Changwei had been arrested and Ma Erli killed, Ma Baojin beat Ma Yuancheng and decided to organize a petition against Zhou.

Ma Baojin arranged to send Ma Erli’s relatives to petition in the capital, hoping to pressure local authorities. Ma Jian secretly cooperated with Director Zhou while carrying out the order, and Ma Yuancheng handed him money for Ma Chunhong as the Ma family’s hold on power continued to crumble.

• Ma Baojin ordered Ma Yuancheng to have Ma Jian gather Ma Erli’s sister and relatives, give them money, and send them to petition in the capital.
• Ma Jian told Director Zhou about the order, and Director Zhou told him to go along with it while Ma Jian offered him another idea.
• Ma Jian reasoned that the Ma and Feng families were doomed and that cooperating with the investigation could protect him and his family.
• Ma Jian returned and told Ma Yuancheng that Liu Defu and Liu Xin had informed on them, while Ma Yuancheng warned him to wait before retaliating.
• Ma Yuancheng gave Ma Jian twenty thousand yuan to deliver to Ma Chunhong for the petition, and he hoped the scheme would drive Director Zhou away.

Ma Jian secretly informed Director Zhou’s side about the township leaders’ plans, while Ma Baojin and Feng Zhihong tried to identify the leak. Director Zhou persuaded Mayor Shan and Secretary Sima to act, leaving the two leaders alarmed as police cars headed out.

• Ma Chunhong sent five cousins to attack Liu Defu and Liu Xin, but investigators arrested them and detained Ma Chunhong and her associates before they could petition in Beijing.
• Ma Baojin ordered Ma Ben to watch Ma Jian, and Ma Ben learned from Doudou that Ma Jian had visited the Public Security Bureau.
• Ma Ben told Ma Jian that Ma Xiaoli would be brought back to continue the petition; after Ma Ben left, Ma Jian made a phone call.
• Director Zhou met with Mayor Shan and Secretary Sima, who agreed to his proposal and summoned Ma Baojin and Feng Zhihong to a city meeting.
• Ma Ben reported that Ma Jian had turned informant, and Ma Yuancheng warned that several police cars had left the Yangcheng Public Security Bureau.

Ma Baojin and Feng Zhihong fled Sitong Township after hearing Zhou Yi had found crucial evidence, while Zhou Yi delayed closing the net to unsettle their remaining accomplices. Police moved into the township to seize evidence and urge the gang members to surrender.

• Liaoyang Xie warned Ma Baojin that Zhou Yi had found crucial evidence, so Ma Baojin and Feng Zhihong decided to flee to Yanbian with Ma Yuancheng and Ma Ben.
• Ma Baojin persuaded Ma Ben to join them, and the two leaders packed cash, gold, phones, passports, and other valuables before arranging to escape in Ma Jiang's van.
• After Ma Baojin and Feng Zhihong left, Fan Yang led officers in raids on their homes to secure evidence and signal that the gang's crimes had been exposed.
• Zhou Yi told Sima Yanan and Mayor Shan that he would wait for the fugitives to get farther away and for their Sitong Township accomplices to become more rattled before closing the net.
• Li Pingwu, Fu Zhigang, and police and SWAT officers entered Sitong Township, broadcast warnings, and urged residents to report the gang and its members to surrender.

Ma Ben, Ma Jiang, and Ma Yuancheng helped turn on Ma Baojin and Feng Zhihong, allowing the police to capture the gang’s leaders. Director Zhou explained that he had expected Ma Jiang and Ma Yuancheng to cooperate, and the chapter ended with confirmation that the two fugitives had been caught.

• Director Zhou ordered Deputy Brigade Leader Li Linsen to close in after gang members began surrendering and providing information.
• Ma Baojin found Ma Ben’s phone message, but Ma Jiang stopped the van and Ma Ben and Ma Jiang disarmed and subdued the two gang leaders with Ma Yuancheng’s help.
• Ma Ben, Ma Jiang, and Ma Yuancheng explained why they had turned against Ma Baojin and Feng Zhihong.
• Director Zhou told Secretary Sima that information from Ma Ben and Ma Jian had led him to expect Ma Jiang and Ma Yuancheng to cooperate.
• Li Linsen reported that Ma Baojin and Feng Zhihong had been caught.

Yangcheng’s anti-organized crime campaign continued to dismantle criminal gangs, while Ma Erli’s daughter set out to petition for justice over her father’s death. At a provincial meeting, officials praised Yangcheng and Dongji’s results and debated a documentary that focused heavily on Zhou Yi.

• Sima Yanan admired Zhou Yi’s abilities, while Shan Wenxu warned that she needed to treat him as more than a subordinate.
• Ma Erli’s daughter left home with his urn, portrait, and possible evidence to seek justice for his death.
• Yangcheng’s campaign expanded, dismantling fourteen criminal gangs and apprehending 108 members between late May and early September.
• Deng Yadong presented Yangcheng’s and Dongji’s anti-organized crime results at the Liaodong Provincial Party Standing Committee meeting.
• Provincial officials praised Zhou Yi and discussed the documentary about his work, and Jian Wanyan said it overemphasized individual heroism.
• Deng Yadong openly disagreed with Jian Wanyan’s assessment of the documentary.

After the documentary showcased the criminals Zhou Yi had brought down, his supporters celebrated his reputation online while he reflected on the risks of public praise. On September 13, Zhou Yi joined a provincial task force to investigate the Kunning Group, beginning the decisive campaign against Liaoyang Xie.

• Deng Yadong praised Zhou Yi’s achievements while explaining why the documentary could not hide his role, pleasing Secretary Jian.
• Jian Shuyue and Tian Tian watched the documentary, discussed its edited interviews, and playfully teased each other.
• Online users turned the criminals’ confessions into memes and praised Zhou Yi, while Zhou Yi considered the usefulness and dangers of his growing fan forum.
• On September 13, the provincial public security department summoned Zhou Yi to Liaoyang.
• Deng Yadong announced the September 13 Special Task Force to investigate the Kunning Group’s suspected organized-crime offenses, and Zhou Yi recognized that the decisive battle against Liaoyang Xie had begun.

Zhou Yi joined the Special Task Force investigating Yao Changjiang’s disappearance and teamed up with An Xin and Gao Lei. The three reviewed the case and agreed to question those involved again as they sought new leads.

• Deng Yadong formed a fifteen-member Special Task Force to investigate major cases in Liaodong Province.
• Zhou Yi asked Liu Ming to assign him the Yao Changjiang Disappearance Case, and An Xin and Gao Lei joined his team.
• Zhou Yi, An Xin, and Gao Lei reviewed how Yao Changjiang had opposed Kunning Group’s takeover of the Hongqi Machinery Plant before vanishing in August 2003.
• The investigators noted that Yao Changjiang’s wife and daughter had reported his disappearance and that a neighbor had seen him enter a black Santana with a long-haired woman inside.
• Zhou Yi proposed questioning everyone involved again and digging deeper for leads, then asked An Xin and Gao Lei for their views.

Zhou Yi questioned Fu Lihong and Yao Beibei about Yao Changjiang’s disappearance, provoking signs of panic and exposing their connection to people linked to the case. He left determined to find evidence, while Yao Beibei insisted the police had none and Xie Bingkun felt an ominous twitch in his eye.

• Zhou Yi, Gao Lei, and An Xin went to Fu Lihong’s home to investigate Yao Changjiang’s disappearance without warning the family beforehand.
• Fu Lihong gave the wrong date for her report and became visibly nervous when Zhou Yi asked about her neighbor Jiang Fuxing.
• Yao Beibei denied that her family was close to Jiang Fuxing, then froze when Zhou Yi asked whether she knew her ex-boyfriend, Xie Zhaolong.
• Yao Beibei refused to answer further questions and ordered the police to leave, so Zhou Yi warned that their next meeting would be at the Provincial Public Security Department.
• After the police left, Yao Beibei told Fu Lihong that they had no evidence, while Zhou Yi told his team to find some.
• Xie Bingkun basked in the afternoon sun at his villa and suddenly felt his right eyelid twitch.

Zhou Yi questioned Jiang Fuxing about seeing Yao Changjiang get into a black Santana, then explained how his suspicions connected Yao Beibei to Xie Zhaolong and made Fu Lihong a focus of the investigation. The chapter ended with Zhou Yi asking An Xin to explain why they wanted to investigate the trio’s properties.

• Director Zhou pounded on Jiang Fuxing’s door, and Jiang let the officers in and repeated that he had seen Yao Changjiang enter a black Santana with a woman.
• Zhou Yi returned to the case investigation center and asked Liu Ming to monitor Fu Lihong, Yao Beibei, and Jiang Fuxing and identify their properties.
• Zhou Yi explained that his investigation began by treating everyone connected to the disappearance as a potential suspect and linking Yao Beibei to Xie Zhaolong.
• Zhou Yi said Fu Lihong had reacted nervously to Jiang Fuxing’s name and confirmed that Yao Beibei had dated Xie Zhaolong.
• Deputy Procurator-General Ma asked why Zhou Yi wanted the trio’s properties investigated, and Zhou Yi invited An Xin to answer.

Zhou Yi and the investigators found Yao Changjiang’s remains buried in Jiang Fuxing’s farmhouse pigsty, strengthening the case against those suspected of conspiring to kill him. Meanwhile, Luo Qinghua urged Jian Wanyan to ease the investigation into Xie Bingkun, but Jian’s response was interrupted by a phone call.

• An Xin and Gao Lei argued that Yao Changjiang had been buried on property connected to the suspects, and Zhou Yi proposed that Xie Bingkun had paid Yao Beibei, Fu Lihong, and others to help murder him.
• The investigators found that Jiang Fuxing owned a suburban farmhouse, and An Xin and Zhou Lei noticed his panic when Zhou Yi mentioned searching the pigsty.
• Jiang Fuxing tried to stop the investigators from searching the pigsty, and they restrained him before uncovering a skeleton there.
• Zhou Yi reflected that solving the case and securing justice would help him earn the authority needed to pursue his work.
• Luo Qinghua urged Jian Wanyan to ease the investigation into Xie Bingkun, but Jian hesitated because the investigation had stalled and Xie had influential connections.
• Jian Wanyan’s phone rang before he answered Luo Qinghua.

Jian Wanyan learned that Zhou Yi’s task force had solved the Yao Changjiang murder, giving him grounds to continue investigating Xie Bingkun. Zhou Yi confronted Yao Beibei in the interrogation room, where she revealed she had been waiting to see him again.

• Jian Wanyan told Luo Qinghua that Xie Bingkun’s case still needed investigating, and Luo learned the task force had found Yao Changjiang’s remains and detained suspects.
• Luo Qinghua and Jian Wanyan credited Zhou Yi with turning the investigation in Jian’s favor.
• Xie Bingkun learned of the breakthrough, feared Zhou Yi’s continued pursuit, and asked his housekeeper how Li Ruoyun had been spending her time.
• A forensic examination confirmed the remains belonged to Yao Changjiang, and Zhou Yi went to question Yao Beibei after her accomplices refused to cooperate.
• Yao Beibei asked Zhou Yi whether he had come to keep his promise, then said she had been waiting to see him again.

Zhou Yi broke Yao Beibei's psychological defenses, leading her to confess to Yao Changjiang's murder and provide evidence against the Kunning Group. The provincial authorities arrested Xie Gang, and Jian Wanyan decided Zhou Yi should take on a more challenging post.

• Yao Beibei taunted Zhou Yi and the investigators, but Zhou calmly confronted her with details of her father's murder until she broke down.
• Yao Beibei confessed that she, Fu Lihong, and Jiang Fuxing had conspired to murder Yao Changjiang, and she provided video evidence tying Xie Gang to the plot.
• The Liaodong Provincial Public Security Department sent its Criminal Investigation Corps to Kunning Group headquarters and arrested Xie Gang.
• Jian Wanyan praised Zhou Yi's work and decided to recommend him for a more challenging position.

As the Kunning Group faced a sweeping investigation, Xie Bingkun disguised himself and went to Li Ruoyun’s villa to kill her before fleeing the country. Li Ruoyun contacted Zhou Yi with their agreed code, and he realized the plan to arrest Xie Bingkun was finally in motion.

• Xie Bingkun prepared to flee as investigators closed in on the Kunning Group, and movers removed two cabinets from the Tianfang Building.
• Disguised as a maintenance worker, Xie Bingkun entered Li Ruoyun’s villa with his bodyguards and confronted her about her betrayal.
• Li Ruoyun admitted she had helped Zhou Yi but denied involvement in the Yao Changjiang Disappearance Case, then taunted Xie Bingkun about his abuse and her relationship with Zhou Yi.
• Xie Bingkun strangled Li Ruoyun as she smiled through her tears.
• Zhou Yi received a message from Li Ruoyun, verified it with their code, and recognized that the arrest plan was underway.

Li Ruoyun and Zhou Yi were caught in Xie Bingkun’s armed standoff after the police arrived at the villa. Xie and his accomplices began edging toward an escape vehicle with Li as a hostage, while Zhou Yi and Li exchanged a subtle signal.

• Li Ruoyun begged Xie Bingkun to spare her son Congcong, but Xie refused to release her and Zheng Qiaorong and the bodyguards stayed loyal to him.
• Zhou Yi arrived at the villa with Director Zhou and a squad of police officers, surprising Xie Bingkun, who had expected Zhou Yi alone.
• Bao seized Li Ruoyun as a hostage, while Sheng fired at the police and demanded that they let the group escape in a truck.
• Xie Bingkun called Zhou Yi and threatened to kill Li unless the police cleared a path; Deputy Director Liu told Zhou Yi to agree and stall for the SWAT Officers Corps.
• Xie Bingkun, Bao, and Sheng edged toward the entrance with Li Ruoyun, and she and Zhou Yi exchanged a slight blink when their eyes met.

Li Ruoyun’s plan lured Xie Bingkun into an attempted attack, allowing Zhou Yi and the police to catch him in the act despite his political status. After Xie realized that Li had outmaneuvered him, Secretary Jian invited Zhou Yi home for dinner and a drink.

• A-Bao turned on Xie Bingkun and disarmed him while Zhou Yi and Chen Zhong shot A-Sheng, leaving him unable to fight back.
• The police arrested Xie Bingkun and A-Bao, and Xie realized that Zheng Qiaorong had helped Li Ruoyun deceive him.
• Zhou Yi told Li Ruoyun that her plan had been too risky, and she explained that she had used herself as bait to ensure Xie would act in front of the police.
• The Special Task Force learned that Xie had been caught red-handed, giving authorities grounds to impose criminal measures without prior approval.
• Secretary Jian called Zhou Yi and invited him home for dinner and a drink.

Zhou Yi’s work against Xie Bingkun’s criminal network brought him nationwide fame, and he traveled to Liaodong Normal University to give a youth legal education lecture. There, Ma Xiaoli watched him with her father’s ashes and photograph, ready to challenge him over her father’s death.

• At dinner, Secretary Jian and the Secretary’s Wife doted on Zhou Yi, and Jian Wanyan asked what he planned to do after nearly a year serving in Yangcheng.
• The Standing Committee approved Xie Bingkun’s arrest, and investigators uncovered further crimes and began probing officials accused of protecting criminal forces.
• News coverage made Zhou Yi famous nationwide, prompting Shi Hang to arrange for him to replace the scheduled legal educator on “Safeguarding Youth.”
• Zhou Yi agreed to travel to Liaodong, partly because he would see his girlfriend, and appeared as the program’s legal educator at Liaodong Normal University on October 12.
• Zhou Yi told the audience he had spent two lifetimes thinking about the subject, while Ma Xiaoli watched with her father’s ashes and photograph, intent on seeking justice.

Zhou Yi delivered a talk at a university about balancing law and human sentiment, using cases to explain why feelings cannot replace legal principles even as legal professionals strive for fairness. After the audience applauded, he answered a student’s question about his legal knowledge by crediting his beautiful, intelligent girlfriend who studied law.

• Zhou Yi opened his speech by explaining how law and human sentiment were meant to coexist in balance.
• Zhou Yi cited a man who was punished for defending his sister and a student’s fatal accident to show how legal outcomes could conflict with public sympathy.
• Zhou Yi argued that absolute balance was impossible, but legal professionals still had a duty to pursue fairness and justice.
• The audience applauded Zhou Yi’s speech, and the event moved into a question-and-answer session.
• Zhou Yi told a student that his legal knowledge came from having a beautiful and intelligent girlfriend who studied law, prompting laughter.

Zhou Yi faced Ma Xiaoli’s public challenge over his decision to order police to shoot her father, Ma Erli, during a rescue operation. He defended the decision with the facts of Ma Erli’s crimes, leaving Ma Xiaoli asking whether her father could have been given even one chance.

• Zhou Yi joked that the College Entrance Examination practice-question book had changed his life, then kindly recommended Law and Society to a student.
• Ma Xiaoli challenged Zhou Yi about ordering police to shoot her father during the operation in Changxing Village.
• A university teacher took Ma Xiaoli’s microphone, but Zhou Yi asked for it to be returned and agreed to answer her questions.
• Zhou Yi said he balanced law enforcement with justice and conscience, then revealed that Ma Erli had bought three women and buried the first two after torturing them.
• Zhou Yi explained that Ma Erli had attacked the surviving victim with a kitchen knife despite police warnings, and asked Ma Xiaoli whether her father had given his victims a chance.

Ma Xiaoli’s challenge to Director Zhou faltered until Gu Shenhong stepped in to defend her, but Zhou deftly countered his arguments. As Gu struggled to respond, Xia Mingyue raised a question about Zhou’s approach to procedural and substantive justice.

• Ma Xiaoli lowered the urn and photograph after she could not answer Zhou’s question, and Gao Shengxue ordered her removed from the stage.
• Gu Shenhong took the microphone and criticized Zhou for denying Ma Erli a chance after condemning Ma Erli for doing the same to his victims.
• Zhou argued that Ma Erli’s actions were a crime and said his decision to order the shooting had been based on the circumstances of the rescue.
• Gu challenged Zhou’s use of the victims’ suffering in response to Ma Xiaoli, but Zhou countered that he had not prevented her from asserting her rights.
• Xia Mingyue joined the debate and asked Zhou why he seemed to favor substantive justice over procedural justice.